For the first time in 10 years, all of Hawai'i's public housing units have passed federal inspection, the state said yesterday.

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority manages 5,245 public housing units in the state.

"This accomplishment reflects the focused work of the board of directors of the HPHA and their staff, whose primary responsibility is to provide safe, decent and clean public housing for low-income families and senior citizens," Gov. Linda Lingle said in a written statement. "We are proud that this milestone has been achieved."

Each year, the Real Estate Assessment Center of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development inspects federally subsidized public housing across the nation to ensure that the units meet basic health and safety standards.

The inspectors examine the building interiors, common areas, perimeter controls, and individual dwellings and score each building.